Traveling from Ladera Heights to Laguna covers 376.6 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 58 minutes of driving time. Because this journey is almost entirely highway-focused, it is feasible to complete as a single-day trip if you are comfortable behind the wheel for a full day. You should budget approximately $87 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Pacific Coast locations. While the route is straightforward, the time commitment suggests you should plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Whether you tackle this in one push or prefer a more leisurely pace, knowing the duration helps set realistic expectations for your travel day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
188.3 miles from Ladera Heights, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
285.8 mi
5h 7m
I 5 Truck
39.3 mi
45m
San Diego Freeway
22.8 mi
26m
Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi
25m
Elk Grove Boulevard
3 mi
5m
West Slauson Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Foulks Ranch Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Marina Freeway
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 285.8 mi, about 5h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ladera Heights, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on Bedford Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Bedford Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto West 57th Street
323 ft·20 sec·West 57th Street
3
Turn left onto Shenandoah Avenue
374 ft·20 sec·Shenandoah Avenue
4
Turn right onto West Slauson Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·West Slauson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto CA 90
0.4 mi·30 sec·Marina Freeway
Toward CA 90 West, I 405 NorthUse the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 405 North: SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 405
23 mi·26 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight lane.
8
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi·27 min·Westside Freeway
14
Keep left at fork onto I 5
35 mi·37 min·Westside Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 506Toward Elk Grove BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto E12
3.0 mi·5 min·Elk Grove Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
17
Turn left onto Foulks Ranch Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Foulks Ranch Drive
Use the left lane.
18
At end of road, turn right onto Laguna Park Drive
0.2 mi·29 sec·Laguna Park Drive
19
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.2 mi·37 sec·Seasons Drive
20
Turn left onto November Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·November Drive
21
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·12 sec·Mapleview Way
22
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·8 sec·Fall Breeze Court
23
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
To manage the nearly seven-hour duration effectively, aim for an early morning departure to avoid peak congestion on the major freeways. Since this is a highway-intensive route, utilize your one recommended stop to refuel and reset before tackling the longest 285.8-mile segment. Check your tire pressure and fluid levels before heading out, as the sustained highway speeds will put your vehicle to the test. If you find the 376.6-mile distance taxing, remember that you have the flexibility to add extra breaks, though staying on the main corridors will keep your arrival time predictable. Keep your fuel budget of $87 in mind and plan to fill up during your mid-trip stop to avoid any unnecessary range anxiety.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188.3 miles from Ladera Heights, CA, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 285.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 83 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.3 miles or 3h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ladera Heights, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ladera Heights, CA
This is one driving day of about 376.6 miles and 6h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Ladera Heights, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 285.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 372.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|West Slauson Avenue
Turn right onto West Slauson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|CA 90 / Marina Freeway
Turn left onto CA 90 / Marina Freeway toward CA 90 West, I 405 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward CA 90 West, I 405 North
9
26.4 mi into trip|~32m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
7
86.3 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
7
372.1 mi into trip|~6h 48m in
Take the exit toward Elk Grove Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 506
Toward Elk Grove Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$86.56 one way
$173.12 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$89.20
$178.40
premium
$6.18
$91.58
$183.17
diesel
$5.61
$83.15
$166.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$87
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$112–$137
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113
1
$39.54
$18.08
Efficient EV
94.2
1
$32.95
$15.06
EV Truck/SUV
150.6
1
$52.72
$24.10
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Ladera Heights, CA
Late night
in Ladera Heights on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laguna, CA
Late night
in Laguna on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Patchy Fog
SSE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 12:37AM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 12:37AM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
24 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 58m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy experience, as 98% of your travel occurs on major highways like the Westside Freeway, I-5 Truck, and the San Diego Freeway. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Westside Freeway, which accounts for a significant 285.8-mile uninterrupted stretch. This is a classic highway-focused drive, prioritizing efficiency and speed over technical or winding backroads. As you transition between these major arteries, the road maintains a consistent, fast-paced character that demands steady attention. Prepare for a long, focused haul where the rhythm of the interstate defines the entire experience.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 285.8 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near West Slauson Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 376.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (West Slauson Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (CA 90 / Marina Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,782 ft28 ft
Total Climb
2,888 ft
Total Descent
3,166 ft
Highest Point
2,782 ft
~53.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,754 ft
Notable High Points
2,782 ft at ~53.8 miles+965 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 58m. Total distance: 376.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 58m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 285.8 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Laguna, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (West Slauson Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (CA 90 / Marina Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 14.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laguna, CA before the return drive.
